Home Birth Resource

Articles, studies, stories and other information about home birth
June 22, 2007

Home Delivery Video – News & Observer photojournalist Juli Leonard followed midwife Nancy Harman as she worked with the DeWolf family in the delivery of their baby girl. The following story shows Harman at work during the home delivery of Caroleen Marie DeWolf.

June 15, 2007

Helping with a special delivery: Midwife Jasmine Bissell helps women approach childbirth holistically – Bissell is a registered midwife who provides holistic prenatal, home birth and postpartum care in Western Colorado. She helps mothers deliver babies in the comforts of their homes, without drugs.
Just as women did before there were hospitals.
Or state-of-the-art birthing centers.

June 6, 2007

- The Business of Being Born – a review- Variety Film review of Ricki Lake’s movie, “The Business of Being Born.” …The statistics are sobering: Though the United States spends almost twice as much as any other nation on delivering babies, the rate of infant mortality is the second worst in the developed world. Docu cites several causes, particularly the absence of midwives from most hospitals, and a cycle of methods that seeks to impose artificial time constraints on a natural process, with an eye toward the bottom line. …

- Childbirth and Labor Discussed in New Novel A Modern Birth – The novel “A Modern Birth”, the first fictional account of modern midwifery, discusses childbirth, labor, home birth and more in the stories of four women. “A Modern Birth” can be found online at Amazon.com, Borders.com and Lulu.com.

June 2, 2007

- Home birth slide show of Emma - A beautiful home birth after cesarean (and three hospital births); the older siblings are present

May 25, 2007

- The Hands In Demand – Midwives are wanted more than ever as OB doctors retire, writes Andrea Gordon

May 22, 2007

- My Brother Jimi Jazz – A children’s book about home birth. It “begins with a family preparing for the home birth of Jimi Jazz, told from the perspective of his sister. The family work together to wash the cloth nappies, cook meals for the baby moon and ready the family bed. Once the scene is set in glorious imagery painted both by the authors words and her amazing artwork, we experience the birth of Jimi Jazz. The birth is assisted by a lovely full moon, an active Mum, a doting Dad and the care of two midwives.”

May 21, 2007

- Is Homebirth for You? – 6 Myths About Childbirth Exposed

May 20, 2007

- Group wants training, standards, licensing for ‘lay’ midwives – Illinois Families for Midwifery works to license and regulate non-nurse midwives, also called “direct-entry” midwives.

May 17, 2007

- A Unique Birth DVD of Unassisted Twins at Home – A birth video, birth story, and pictures of an unassisted twin birth (includes a footling breech) born at home and into their mother’s hand. – “This educational tool will move, inspire, and transform you and your students as you gain an intimate glimpse into the Goorchenko household where, after a two-and-a-half hour labor, twins Psalm & Zoya are born into their mother’s arms.”

May 16, 2007

- Home birth Safety – Several studies about the safety of home birth in low risk women – Life Support – A stealth bill has legalized midwifery in Missouri — for now. – Czech midwives claim they are not allowed to do their job – “The birth of a child is an unforgettable event in a woman’s life and increasingly Czech women are convincing their partners to attend the birth and make the shared moment of happiness even more special. However many hospitals in the country still frown on the practice of allowing anyone to “get in the way” of what they perceive as a strictly medical procedure. The country has one of the lowest birth rates in the world – but many Czech women say they want more.”

May 15, 2007

- DIY Delivery – Ms. Becker planned throughout her pregnancy to give birth without a midwife, doctor or other birth attendant. After using a doula for her first child’s home birth, Ms. Becker decided that the job of a good midwife is to “let the process happen,” she says. So with George she decided to go solo. Choosing to deliver without skilled help remains a controversial and uncommon choice. But now, spurred by the Internet, unassisted childbirth is reaching a broader range of women than ever before. – Midwives seek own deliverance – Bill that would lift birthing restrictions is facing a fight – Western Australia to increase rate of home births – The West Australian government has confirmed it wants to increase the numbers of babies being born at home. A draft policy on home births released by health minister Jim McGinty said some women would be able to have a home birth safely instead of delivering their child in hospital. “In England and Europe, home births are commonplace,” Mr McGinty told The Australian newspaper today.”

May 13, 2007

- An interview with Ricki Lake – On her “good” divorce, guitar-prodigy son, and very revealing home-birth documentary

May 12, 2007

– A New Look at Home Birth – A research project – “I hope you will participate in my study about home birth. I am a PhD candidate in American Studies at the University of Iowa, investigating current home birth cultures, with a strong focus on unassisted birth.” - Our Journey to Home birth – Beautiful, inspiring photo montage. After having three cesarean sections, a mother runs a triathlon and has the home birth she’s always longed for.

May 11, 2007

- Home Birth: The Spirit, The Science and The Mother – (© 2006 Sage Femme. Running time: 46 min.) includes interviews with Dr. Marsden Wagner, Dr. Jeanine Tgettis and Dr. Fred R. Duhart as well as joyful footage from two Home Births. - MO Midwifery Bill: Stillborn Again – “Advocates of home birthing will not likely see passage of a bill legalizing midwifery this year, but they’re counting the current legislative session as the most successful to date…. Davis sounds almost like a feminist activist when she talks about the issue. “Even though I’ve never had a home birth myself, I feel like I have to be a fierce defender of women who want to. The medical model treats women like a piece of meat.” According to the advocacy group Citizens for Midwifery, Missouri is one of eleven states in which lay midwives — those who aren’t also doctors or nurses — are outlawed. …”

May 10, 2007

- Group plans event to celebrate natural child birth – “A new local group wants to change the way mothers-to-be and the community think about child labor. Monica Brasile, 31 of Iowa City, recently helped organize a new group in the area, Iowans for Childbirth Options. Brasile said the focus of the organization is to bring attention away from pregnancy being a major medical event, and shifting it back to the way it used to be, as a natural process. …”

May 9, 2007

- Going it alone – Why would anyone choose to give birth without a doctor, midwife or even her partner in attendance? Viv Groskop reports on the growing trend for freebirth - Jeannie Babb Taylor: May 2052 – “You’re fortunate to be living in this era,” says Nonna, brown eyes twinkling above the dimples in her wrinkled cheeks. Rachel sips at the red raspberry leaf tea, the cup clinking against the saucer as she sets it down to respond. Her grandmother is already talking again. “When I gave birth to your mother,” she goes on, “I was not allowed to eat or drink.” Rachel’s eyebrows shoot up. “The whole time?” “That’s right. Back in those days, all babies were born in hospitals — even healthy babies. …”

May 4, 2007

- Ricki Lake’s “awesome” vagina – The actress and former talk show host takes us on a magical mystery tour through natural childbirth in her new documentary.

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